Dogs: Discussions

I HAVE ONE BLACK LAB MIX. AND ONE AMERICAN PITBULL TERRIER..ALSO BLACK.BOTH DOGS CAME TO ME FROM MY DAUGHTER BY DEFAULT.THEY STAY INSIDE, AND HAVE ME WHERE THEY WANT ME.

We lost our beloved 10 yr. old Golden Retriever, Samantha, two years ago. She never let on that she was ill. She had slowed down some in recent months, but we thought that it was due to her age. Anyway, she became obviously ill on a Friday, and we went to the vet. They did blood work and said that they would have results on Saturday. No results came back. She became worse on Sunday and we took her to an emergency clinic. They ran tests and said that she had lymphoma. She died two days later. We hadn't had time to absorb the fact that she was so seriously ill, before we lost her. We have two other wonderful and very much adored Goldens, yet, it is still difficult to think about or talk about Samantha, without being reduced to tears, even two years after her passing. Just writing this has me reaching for the tissue box. Is there anyone out there who is going through similar heartache...

I am a total animal lover,and I have always rescued dogs (actually,for some reason they find me) but I adopted an English Mastiff as a 3 month pup,she (Tasha) is now 2 yrs old,my 3rd dog,and she is so dopey and sleeps a lot,she sleeps with me,(actually she has to have her head on me when she sleeps) and her snoring and shaking while sleeping is concerning me,I know people can have sleep abnia,and that affects the heart,I have to wake her up when she is really shaking and snoring so loudly.I wonder if it is taking a toll on her heart,I have fallen in love with her from the moment I saw her,and have never seen a dog act the way she does,She already has knee problems,where the knee has to pop into place before walking,she sounds like she is wearing slippers and dragging her feet when she walks,vet says that she is going to have problems later on,I am very upset over that as well.she is around 140lbs,she was the runt of the litter. I have a pic of her next to my name somethingspec-4-u-2008 for ebay,I don't know if it will come up or not on this site, she was only 5 months old at the time of the pic. she has grown some since. if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please let me know. I am very worried about her,(plus my other 2 dogs with multiple probs,they are 13 & 14 yrs old) I am disabled myself,and ebay is my only source of income for right now, so I am on a very tight budget. Please let me know if anyone else has any suggestions, thank you! God bless!
Carolyn

LAST WEEK I CAME HOME TO FIND MY LITTLE BELLE WAS LIMPING, SO I CALLED THE VET N TOLD EM THAT SHE IS LIMPING AND IN PAIN THEY WANTED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT SO I SAID SHE IS IN PAIN, I M GOING TO GIVE HER TYLENOL OR ADVIL IF I CANT SEE A VET TONIGHT. SO THEY SAID I CAN GO THAT NIGHT
GOT THERE AND THEY SAID THEY WANTED X RAYS. SO I DID
AND THEY SAID SHE NEEDS SURGERY AND THEY CANT DO THAT KIND OF SURGERY CAUSE IT WAS TO COMPLEX. SO I WENT TO A SPECIALIST AND FOUND OUT SHE NEEDED KNEE CAP CAUSE IT WAS WORN HAD NO MORE TENDON AND LIGAMENTS HOLDING HER TWO BONES TOGETHER AND IT WAS HOLDING BY NERVES AND MUSCLES. HENCE THE REASON HER TIBIA WAS CROOKED AND WOBBLY WHILE SHE WALKED, SHE KEPT TRIPPING IN IT.
WITHIN FIVE DAYS I GOT HER SURGERY TO REDO THE KNEE WITH HER LIGAMENTS FROM THE LEG AND GRAFT A BONE TO HELP HOLD THE KNEE CAP THAT WAS LEFT. AND WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS GOT THAT DONE AND HOW DID IT WORK OUT FOR ANYONE ELSE?

On November 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine issued an alert warning pet parents and veterinarians to keep a close eye on animals receiving the insulin product, Vetsulin, to treat animal diabetes. The product, which is manufactured by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal, may contain varying amounts of crystalline zinc insulin, and could cause a delay in insulin action and an overall longer duration of insulin activity, according to the FDA.

“Pet parents whose diabetic dogs or cats are currently being treated with Vetsulin insulin should contact their veterinarians to discuss appropriate measures,” says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA. “Examples of alternative insulin choices include Humulin N and Levemir insulins for dogs, and Lantus (glargine) insulin for cats. These insulins require different syringes than those used to administer Vetsulin, and it is essential that pet parents work closely with their veterinarians when making any changes.”

Veterinarians should monitor their patients who are receiving Vetsulin, and consider transitioning them to the insulin products outlined above.

For more information about diabetes in cats and dogs, please check our pet care pages. To read the FDA’s official alert about Vetsulin, visit the FDA online

I come from a family where beliefs were different. My dads believed in cremation. My moms in burial only. I am talking about how they cared for the remains of human loved ones by the way. There are so many reasons why one is chosen over the other. As for our four legged loved one there are also many reasons. I have lost three dogs in the last several years - two to old age and one to cancer. I buried one and cremated two. The one I buried died at home in her sleep. Patchy was laid to sleep in my middle field where she loved to walk with me and play with her sisters. Ra Ra took sick and died in another state while we were on vacation. It just about killed me. It was very sudden and quick due to the type of cancer she had. She was so young and full of life. I had her cremated. Loppy Dog was also cremated. She died when the ground was starting to freeze. It is common practice to cremate up here due to the ground being frozen for a great part of the year. Our frost line is four feet or better. The other way if you will not cremate is to store the remains of your loved one (human and animal) until the ground defrosts in the late spring and then wait for the "mud season" to end. We get a lot of snow and when it melts everything is wet and real muddy. We don't have spring - we have mud season up here. Many say a winter death is twice as hard because you have to loss your loved one twice. Once when they die and again when you bury them. Cremation is other choice. I chose cremation for my loved ones during the months the ground is frozen. I couldn't bear to loss them twice. Other reasons for cremation ?? No yard to bury your dog in. I was asked many years ago by a friend if she could bury her dog in my yard (she rented). Of course I said yes. A draw back for cremation is cost of course. I always pay to get the ashes. It is very costly for a lot of people to have done in these hard economical times. In the end - it all about your beliefs, the circumstances and what you can afford. The death of a loved one is painful.

I have a chihuahua, 1 year old, yesterday evening I left money in my living room table and guess what she ate them. My question, is it dangerous, might she get sick because of that? thanks!!!!!